Lbs Considers Sheriff's Proposal

January 21, 2001|By MEGAN O'MATZ Staff Writer

LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA — Town Manager Bob Baldwin has released a detailed analysis in response to Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne's proposal to provide police service to the town, which now has its own department.

The sheriff has asked the town to consider entering into a four-year contract, costing $1.923 million annually. The town now spends $1.960 million to run its own department.

In crunching the numbers, Baldwin said he determined that the town would save about $37,027 under the sheriff's proposal.

A greater savings, however, would be felt in reduced insurance costs, Baldwin said. The town's liability and workers' compensation costs for all town employees, including police, this fiscal year are $268,684.

"Our insurance costs are going way up," Baldwin said.

The town would also be freed from collective bargaining responsibilities under the sheriff's plan.

Officers in the town support a merger with the sheriff because their salaries would increase and they would have increased training and advancement opportunities. The minimum annual salary for an officer in the town is $28,828, the maximum $40,641, Baldwin said.

By comparison, Wilton Manors pays $35,405 for entry-level positions. Officers there top out at $52,217. In Oakland Park, which is under contract with the Sheriff's Office, the minimum salary for officers is $35,254 and the maximum $49,444.

In examining police salaries in 10 surrounding communities, Baldwin determined that officers earn on average at least $35,345. The average top salary for officers is $51,431.

To raise the salaries in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Baldwin told town commissioners they would have to spend $194,933 to bring the officers up to the average minimum and $343,082 to pay them based on experience. The costs would rise if the town provided police protection to South Beach, which is slated to be annexed by the town this year. Residents in South Beach have told the town they want to continue to have the Sheriff's Office provide their police protection.

But Commissioner David Wessels said the town could reconstitute its own police force if the arrangement with the sheriff does not work or becomes too costly. "We can go back and take things out of mothballs and try again," he said.

Commissioner John Yanni, a community service aide in the Sheriff's Office, said he supports the takeover, noting the cost savings and increased benefits for the officers.

"It's one of the most professional law enforcement agencies in this country," he said.

Mayor Oliver Parker said the town is supposed to have three officers on duty each shift, but that is often impossible if employees are sick, on vacation, on workers' compensation or under suspension. The sheriff would guarantee three officers per shift by rotating deputies in from elsewhere to fill vacancies.

"It's not hard for him to move people around as needed," Parker said.

Commissioner Robert Waller urged residents and business owners to attend two public workshops on the issue. The meetings will be at 7p.m. Tuesday and Feb. 6 in Jarvis Hall, 4501 Ocean Drive.

Commissioners might vote on the matter Feb. 13.

Waller said he would reserve judgment until he receives input from the public.

"I think everyone should have an open mind," he said.

In the March elections, Furth, Yanni and Parker promised to oppose a takeover by the Sheriff's Office. Yanni was not working for the sheriff at the time.

"I can remember our president saying no new taxes, read my lips. But it changes," Yanni said. "You have to go with the times."

Megan O'Matz can be reached at momatz@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4518.